An Exemplar for Combining the Collection, Analysis, and Interpretations of Verbal and Nonverbal Data in Qualitative Research

Anthony J Onwuegbuzie, Valerie T Byers

Abstract

Denham and Onwuegbuzie (2013) provided evidence that relatively few qualitativeresearchers include any mention of nonverbal communication in their empirical articles. Ofthose who do include this information, the vast majority of qualitative researchers devote aslittle as one sentence to nonverbal communication data in their published articles. However,this lack of reporting of nonverbal communication data likely stems from the scant guidancein this area given by authors of qualitative research textbooks. Thus, the purpose of thepresent article is to provide a framework for collecting, analyzing, and interpreting nonverbalcommunication behavior. This framework yields guidelines for students to collect, to analyze,to interpret, and to report nonverbal communication data. Underlying this framework is a13-step nonverbal communication process that serves as a conceptual framework that we usein our qualitative research methodology courses to help students develop a nonverbalcommunication way of thinking. This 13-step nonverbal communication process occurs at thefollowing three stages: the Conceptualization Stage, the Planning Stage, and theImplementation Phase. Rather than representing a linear process, the nonverbalcommunication methodological steps within each stage and across stages are interactive andrecursive. After providing this framework, we present an exemplar for reporting nonverbalcommunication data.

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